University of Virginia Library

LOVES LABYRINTH:

OR The true-Louers knot:

INCLVDING The disastrous fals of two star-crost Louers Pyramvs & Thysbe.

Upon the Dedicatorie.

I heare one aske me, if I could finde none,
To dedicate this Poeme to, but one
That's now transplanted to another sphere,
And better measures sings then anie's here.
Its true indeede, the world's large and wide,
And many were there I confesse beside,
My now deceased-Patron, I could finde,
But none so well agreeing with my minde;
He was one that I honour'd, and his worth
Deseru'd a pregnant Muse to set it forth,
Which though I haue not I will shew my best,
To crowne him sleeping in the bed of rest,
Where, while I write, my passion shall appere,
By each lines accent mixed with a tere:
But you will lay this subiect cannot moue,
Such firme impression, cause it treats of loue,
A sadder straine would better fitting be
“Drain'd from the streames of graue Melpomene,
Where euery sentence might that passion breede,
“as if himselfe were here portraide indeed;
This I could doe and so expresse him too
(But that his worth would be a shame to you.
That are desertlesse to see him by Fate
Lopt, that has left you much to imitate,
Of honour I dare say, (which ere 't be long,
“May be a subiect to a better song.)
But I would haue you know how ere this is,
It was from th' cradle nat'ralized his:
Nor would I raze my Patrons dedicate,
“How ere he seem'd to be obscur'd by Fate,
But as I lou'd him liuing, my desire
Is to expresse my loue vnto him higher
Being now dead; that though my friend be gone,
Yet life and death to friendship may be one:
For th' print of loue if it be stampt aright,
Is most in heart when it is least in sight.

VPON THE PREMATURE death of the most Generous and Ingenious; the right Worshipfull, Sir Richard Mvsgrave Knight-Barronett of Hartley: Who died in Italy, being preuented of his religious purpose, intending to visit the holy Sepulchre of our Sauiour in Ierusalem, an Epicedivm

To all vnhappy Louers.

The Author vpon his infant Poeme.

If ought's amisse, imputed let it be,
To th' time wherein this Poeme it was writ,
Which was (I must confesse) my infancy
Of Age, Art Iudgement, Knowledge, and of Wit:
Nor doe I thinke it would this time befit,
To meddle with my youths minority.
Vnpolisht and vnhewd, I therefore send it
Freely to th' World, that she may friendly mend it.

Upon the Presse.

Tride would I bin by th' Country, Bench, & Prince,
Yet but a month agoe, no longer since,
Was I for speaking (as it may be thought)
And not for silence to the presse thus brought,
Iudge you my friends what conscience there is in't:
By th' weights I beare the errors of the Print.

The Argument of Pyramus and Thysbe.

Childrens loue and Parents hate,
Pure affection cros'd by fate.
True their loue, so true to either,
That they chusd to die together.
Curteous woodnimphs, Tigres fierce,
“Wash with teares their doleful hearse,
Mirtle branches, roses sweete,
“Satyres strow about their feete.
Woodnimphs with their Syrens voice,
Call their parents by their noise.
Who with pace (slow pace God wot,)
“Made hast they could, yet hasted not;
Till they saw their children lie,
“Arme in arme full louingly.
Oft they sought, but all in vaine,
To bring life to them againe.
Trickling teares came dropping downe,
“Groues with teares were ouerflowne,
Water mixt with crimson blood,
“Made a deluge where they stood.
Thisbees obsequies they see,
“Grauen in an Oliue tree,
Their bones to ashes they doe burne
And place them in one sacred vrne.
That as their loue was all in all,
So they might haue one Buriall.
To this shrine, this statue faire,
Louers wont for to repayre.
Who to confirme their sincere Loue,
Offered them a Turtle Doue.
But when their reliques scattered were,
Maids nere after offered there
Their wonted incense, but forsooke,
The Altar which was wont to smoke,
With mirrhe and thime, which they did burne,
With solemne rites about their vrne.
Yet lest their fame should so decay,
Their tombe is to be seene this day,
Which first erected was to be,
Conseruer of their memory.

Pyramus and Thysbe.

Nimrods faire City, beauteous Babylon,
which admirations eies once gaz'd vpon,
Though grac'd in all, in nought so gracious,
as in her Thysbe, and yong Pyramus.
Thysbe a maid as faire, as faire could be,
he for his sexe, was full as faire as she.
These two resplendent starres, shone in one sphere,
and by contiguate mansions bordering neere,
Renewd their loues vnhappy memory,
press'd downe too much by parents iealousie.
Aye me too iealous, to preuent that good,
of sincere loue which cannot be withstood.
These two debar'rd of meeting, not of louing,
for loue, though smothred, hath an inward moouing
Sought means to shew their mutual loue by woing,
supplying that in words, they mist in doing.
Their walls abutting neree, so neere did meet,
That these two Saints might each another greete.
A chinke there was, which Thysbe soone espies,
for maids in wanton feats, haue Linceus eyes.
VVhich beeing seene (well seene) she did repaire
each morne betime to see if he were there:
At last he spies it, (men haue duller witte,
then women haue, yet better manage it.)
This crany was the shrine to which they came,
where either call'd on other, by their name.
And with deuotion ech to other kneeled,
protesting loue, hid loue, so long concealed.
VVhy should our Parents, Pyramus would say,
seeke to protract our loues by long delay?
Or why should we, with such precisenesse shunne,
that which our parents long before haue done?
Suppose their loue was pure: our loue's as pure,
they full as fond as we, were drawen to th' lure.
And why, my Thysbe, should that comely face,
for all her feature, haue a ciphers place?
Thou art no shadow, but a substance (deare)
in substances, impressions best appeare.
Then for my loue, thy ioy, and beauties sake,
that seemes eclyps'd, let me th' impression make.
Lets to the field, aye me, we cannot goe,
we are immur'd within the grate of vvoe;
And why should I, fond man, my Thysbe moue,
to vvanton pleasure? vvhere's no vse of loue;
I knovv thou lou'st, in that thy griefe is more,
pent from that St vvhich thou vvould fain adore.
Thysbe stood peeping through this narrovv chinke
and though she spake nought, yet shee more did think,
Her blush, her smile, her bittng of her lip,
did all the secrets of her hart vnrippe.
Thus whilst they stood both standing at a bay,
wishing some priuate passage, or some way,
To consummate their vowes: in comes her mother,
which made them take their leaue one of another.
She skoold her daughter: vvhat my tricksie girle,
are you besotted with this worthlesse pearle,
This beauties blossome? faire enough, but poore,
dote on the rich, affect his rags no more.
Mother (quoth Thisbe) you are much decau'd,
if I may speake with reuerence, he nere crau'd
Loue at my hands: what did he here, quoth she,
that he so priuate should discourse with thee?
He is (quoth Thisbe) come from Salamine,
and brought me grapes, pluckt from that tender vine
Ætolus planted, which she gaue in hast,
vnto her mother, praying her to tast:
Shee tooke and tasted: fruits variety
seru'd at that time for her Apology.
The pitchy shade of night-approach't at hand,
vvhen Screech-owles, Fauns, and Satyres haue cōmād
Where skipping in their lawne and flowry groue,
Siluane to Siluane consecrates his loue.
Yet when each chirping bird, goes to her nest,
loues eyes be open, and can take no rest.
Beasts to their caues resort, surcease to prey,
feeding on that they purchas'd by the day.
Each creature in his kind dispos'd to sleepe,
but feruent loue continuall watch doth keepe:
He tosseth in his bed, wishing it day,
hoping thereby his cares to throw away.
Yet when the night is past, the day yeelds more,
then ere the night affoorded him before.
Thus Pyramus enthrall'd twixt hope and feare,
hopes, though smal fruit of hope in him appeare.
He cannot sleepe nor wake, but twixt them both,
sleeping and waking as a letharge doth.
Oft would he hugge his pillow in his arme,
and cling it fast about, to keepe it warme.
Supposing it was Thysbe, and would sweare,
no creature ere could be more welcome there,
Streight would he call on Hymen, then inuite,
his friends and kinsfolke to his nuptiall rite.
And faigning their replies, thanks he would giue,
vowing requitall once, if he should liue.
Oh what distractions haunt a louers minde
passing those bounds which nature hath assign'd,
Nought vpon earth, but limits hath we see,
but boundlesse loue can nere contained be.
Hearbs yeeld a soueraigne cure to euery wound,
but for loues cure, in hearbs no vertue's found.
Then blest is he, and in an happie state,
who for loues dart is made inuulnerate.
Yet was it hard to see and not to loue,
Thysbe's admired beauty, which could mooue,
Serpēts, birds, plāts brute beasts which grase & feed,
more then ere Orpheus with his musicke did.
Her goulden tresses, pure ambrosian
Fairer then all the twists Arachne span,
Shone far more bright then Phœbus glistring raies,
by all mens iudgements, meriting more praise;
Her corall lip, (no lip) but ports of pleasure,
which seem'd to open to whole mines of treasure,
Appeard so sweet, that all was sweet about it,
for I am sure nought could be sweet without it.
Her brests two iuory mounts, mounts may I cal thē
for many vales of pleasant veines empall'd them
These like two borders, did such sweets display,
that who lodg'd there, lodg'd in the milkie way.
Below a shady vale, aye mee that shade,
which nature in her owne despite had made,
Had made for glory of that sacred mount,
with the sweet Nectar of a liuely fount.
A still distilling fount, an heauenly riuer,
for theres no earthly spring can spring for euer.
Her wanton gate, her glance, her smile, her toying,
all ioy'd in one, shewed pleasure in enioying.
So as Euphrates, vvhere this city bounded,
vents vp his passions, for he oft resounded
Beating his bancks, and eccoing in the aire,
and then retiring backe, seem'd to despaire.
That Thysbe could not loue a sencelesse one,
at which repining, he vvould make his mone.
Hath not my current ere renovvned beene,
for th' easie passage of my quiet streame?
Hath not my torrent yeelded much content,
to gild his meanes, vvhose meanes vvhere vvholly spent?
Haue I not suffered much? sustain'd great paines,
fraughting your trauaile with a double gaines.
And for supporting of so many shippes,
may not Euphrates graze vpon her lippes,
Whom thus he loues? vnthankfull coast (quoth he)
respecting least, who did the most for thee.
This being said, hee could expresse no more,
but in a loue-sicke passion, bett the shore.
And to confirme, what I haue heard men say,
he left his course and tooke another way.
If sencelesse riuers that were neuer seene
to loue, or care for louing, held no meane,
In their affecting Thisbe: what should hee
that had both sence and reasons purity?
Pure in his mind, and faire in beauties shew,
Narcissus second for his comely hew:
Lipp'd like Adonis, Erycina loued,
shaped like Alexis Pollyos approoued.
Grac'd with a smiling countenance, which did breed,
a louely white, mix'd with a comely red.
Two sparkling eyes pierciue as Diamond,
which, whersoere they gas'd, they seem'd to woūd,
That though the Sun were set, yet his bright eies
shone as the Beames which from the sun doe rise:
The night being gone, too long god wot in going,
her wandring lights to Tethis banks bestowing,
Titan came peeping in at Thyisbes chamber,
whom she reflected with her locks of amber.
Each other greeting, as if had beene there,
two Suns at once, both in one hemysphere.
Hard was the combat, but more hard it were,
to tell whose beams diffus'd their light most clear,
Yet in the end Titan in an angry mood,
seeming surpast, did hide him in a cloud.
Thysbe puts on her cloths, blest were those cloths,
thrice happy shade, that shadow'd such a Rose,
Where being dressed, not dress'd as shee would bee,
she tooke her to her praiers religiously.
High heauens (quoth she) from whence al pleasures flow,
deigne some of them on Thysbe to bestow.
For by your power, which I doe much adore.
I loue but that which you haue lou'd before.
Thou thundring Ioue, did dote as well as I,
when thou desired with Danae to lye;
Which to effect, thou turn'd her to a showre.
a Goulden showre her beauty to defloure,
For cloth'd in lightning, Danae denaied,
to ioyne with thunder: afterward arraid
In dewie moisture, (moisture we do loue,)
she cast off shame, and did thy shape approue.
And Iuno lou's Ixion for his kisse,
Venus, Adonis, for his comelinesse.
Daphne (poore Laurell) chased by Apollo,
running as fast before as he did follow,
Thus did your loue, your lust, your thoughts renew,
if I thinke ill, I thinke no worse then you.
And well may gods with womens sexe dispence,
Since they were first authoris'd their offence.
My loue's not spotted with lasciuious tutch,
vnlesse it be by louing ouermuch.
Nor branded with the note of Infamie,
but pure as Delia Queene of Chastitie.
Thoughts are the worst, my actions they be cleare,
& he'se no man whose thoughts nere soyled were.
Then pardon if I loue, suppose it zeale,
whose passions be too hote for to conceale:
Leauing her Orisons, composed of Loue,
loue dallying praiers: her eyes aside she moues,
And sees the chinke, which she first saw before,
which did augment her dolors much the more.
For shee recall'd to minde, to memory,
her mothers chiding, fathers Ielousie;
Both which a streame of teares extract from her,
as if pale death her comforts should interre.
Oft would she call on louely Pyramus,
with smothered speech, as one suspitious:
Lest the pure ayre, and walls adioyning neere,
should prattle loue vnto her parents eare.
Oft would she nibble out a stone or two,
to make the crift seeme bigger to the show
Of her deepe loue: for they suspected were,
therefore debard, lest they should come too neer.
Pyramus pent vp all this while, at last,
gets out and hies him to the chinke as fast.
Where what discourse their mutuall loue affoorded,
seem'd by the Gods in heauen to be recorded.
Either with greedy eye gasing on other,
Thysbe look'd backe somtimes, doubting her mother:
For she suspected much her iealous eye,
in her loues presence to be euer by.
Enuious vvall oft would these louers say,
diuide thy selfe and let vs haue a way,
To meete, to kisse, to parley and relate,
the solemne festiues of our nuptiall state.
Why should thy marble stuctures hold vs out,
vvhose loue encircles Babilon about?
Or why should terrene composition moue
a breach or separaration of our loue?
Loue is celestiall: thou a marble shrine,
why shouldst thou hinder loue that is diuine?
And yet we cannot so ingratefull be,
but we must offer vp our thanks to thee;
Our vowes, our giftes, our best pris'd sacrifice,
in that thou yeelds a passage to our eyes,
Yeelding some comfort in this gloomie night,
supplying kisses with the vse of sight.
Loue hath some harmonie, some small agreeing,
for what it wants in tutch it hath in seeing.
Hesperias garden was by serpents kept,
whose euer watching eye-liddes neuer slept.
And Colchis Fleece was kept as warily,
till Iasons meanes obtain'd the victorie
So be our loues immur'd, interred rather,
by two suspicious dames, one subtile father.
Then would they kisse the wall and oft entreat,
that in compassion it would let them meet.
We will not tell our parents, nor expresse,
who twas, gaue way vnto our happinesse.
Louers be faithfull, of our faiths beleeue vs,
since this straight durance cannot chuse but grieue vs.
The wall replyde not: yet their words had force,
piersing her hardnesse, softned with remorse.
For euer since, as well it may appeare,
the marble sheds each morne a Trickling teare,
Thus did these louers passe the weary morne,
depriu'd of that which louers best adorne,
And that is priuate meeting, which being missing,
we beat the aire but with conceit of kissing,
A vaine conceit, to dally with delight,
Expecting sun-shine in a clowdy night.
Imparadis'd in ioyes he cannot be,
that's clad in sable roabs of misery.
Oh then conceiue what sorrow he sustaines,
that in perpetuall languishment remaines.
O what distractions do his ioyes disseuer,
feeding like vultures on his hart for euer.
If Zeuxes pictured grapes, so liuely were;
That many birds in flocks repaired there,
Pecking vpon his statues, and did browse
vpon his liuely grapes, meere liueles showes.
Well may we thinke, that Ioue himselfe can make,
a farre more liuely, and proportion'd shape,
Then a poore painter; though his Grapes seeme ripe,
yet they were drawne from Ioues first Archetype.
Then Ioues best picture, Natures admiration,
Thysbe, euen Thysbe made for recreation,
May well be thought to draw each bird each beast,
from Pastures greene, vpon her lippes to feast.
It were a festiue banquet there to be,
whose breath is Nectar, breathing deity.
Here Pyramus would be, if heauens would grant it,
for he esteemes no treasure, whilest he wants it,
Since such a Iewell, such a pretious Gem,
in that it's rare, is more admired by men.
Thus Tantalised, the Gods doe seeme to loue him,
setting him fruite, but fruite too farre aboue him:
For when his lips (pure lips) should but comny them
they mocke his lips and in dirision flie them.
Dost flie my lips (quoth he) ô doe not flie me,
for what I doe, I doe it but to trie thee,
To trie thy loues which though our parents thwarted
our conioin'd loue disioin'd shall nere be parted,
Well may our bodies be disioin'd a sunder,
but loue's to head-strong, none can keepe it vnder:
Loue is free-borne, it cannot seruile be,
to begge for curtesie with a bended knee.
Thysbe kept concord, for each word he spake,
seem'd her retired passions to awake,
Stird vp her spirit, as inspir'd by fate,
making her stout that was effeminate.
Continue thy intendments sweete, quoth she,
and as thy shadow I will follow thee,
Passing a sea of dangers launching deepe,
till I the shadow to the substance creepe,
Passe or't as forrest, snow-cliued Caucasus,
Thysbe will follow steps of Pyramus;
The Riphean Mountaines, or the Hetririan plaines,
Each morne resounding with the notes of swains,
If thou loue Vmolus, with her fragrant spices,
or Ericthea famous for deuices:
Thysbe will follow thee with speed she may,
only, her trauaile with thy loue repaie.
But these are but discourses of our ill,
which if not cured, be augmented still.
For that you know renues the maladie,
which rubs the sore, and yields no remedie:
For why should any labour me remoue,
From that admired mirror whom I loue.
And I am of that nature: more they hold me,
from fancying thee, more passions do enfould me;
Then plot (my Pyramus,) contriue, inuent,
that we may harbour loue in loues content,
Till wearied with ioy, wearyed too soone,
thou leaue adoring of the watrie Moone.
Where being cloyed with the sweetes of loue
mayst leaue the vale, and taste the fruits aboue.
Thou art my sheepheard, I will be thy plaine,
I the poore cottage, thou the homely swaine,
Thou shalt refresh thy selfe vpon my banckes,
which hauing don, I know thou'le giue me thanks,
For my diffused streames, streams meerely sent,
not much enforc'd from Thysbes continent,
Come then, for why should any marble wall
being materiall substance, so appall
Our ardent wishes, wishes which proceede
from loue-sick passions, which more passions feed
Let our distilling teares congeal'd in one,
dissolue the hardnes of this flinty stone.
Remorse may moue this stone by diuine wonder,
to let vs meet, diuide herselfe a sunder.
This said, maine riuers of distreaming teares,
in their woes-torrents purblinde eies appeares,
Seeking, but seeking all in vaine God wot,
to moue that shrine which weeping moued not.
It wept to see true loue so straite confinde,
disioyn'd by fates, which fauours had combinde.
It wept to see their parents so vnkinde,
to curbe their bodies presence, whose pure minde,
Rapt with content of seeing, not enioying,
acts discontent, debard of further toying.
It wept to see their minds so well agreeing
in one selfe place, not to haue one selfe-being.
It wept and much repin'd that dismall fate,
Should crosse pure loue by loue-disioyned hate:
And pittying their case shed many a teare,
Shedding so many, she her selfe did were.
Oh what hard harted parents had these two,
since what the stones allow'd, they'l not allow,
Reproouing that in theirs, themselues affected,
soiling their youth with what their youth respected
Are these the fruits and honours of our time,
the fruitlesse blossomes of a sterile clyme?
Are these our louing Sires? oh no, they are hard,
to presse downe loue, that cannot be debar'd.
You high resplendent heauens, whose cherishing heat
with seasoned warmth, our spacious borders greet,
Temper such parents hearts, as are not won,
till both their line and linnage be vndone.
Soften their stifned minds, oppress'd with rage,
playing sharpe tyrants in declining age.
For why should they find fault their children play,
since in their prime they playd as much as they.
Decrepit age, stilted for want of strength,
with brinish teares deplores their sins at length;
But thus I conster't: They their age deplore,
theyr youth is spent, and they can doe no more.
And like an enuious viper, would haue none,
to vse their strength, because their strength is gone.
But old age ers in this: experienc'd wit
swaies their proceedings, youth abandons it.
Nor doe they know what hurt poore maides receiue,
to pen them vp from that they wish to haue.
For though they be immur'd in walles of Brasse,
Loue hath her loope-holes by which she will passe,
In spite of iealous dotage, and espies
some priuy chinke, though wacht by Linceus eies,
For loue enclos'd like raging elements
of fire and water, though imprisoned, vents,
And must eruption haue, it cannot be
an heauenly motion should want libertie.
Eurydice though shes enforc't to dwell,
in Stygian Plutoes court infernall hell,
Yet her transmounting passions doe remoue
themselues from hell vnto the earth aboue.
Poore swaine Dorinda though by Satires kept,
in a vast caue, whose watchfull eies nere slept,
But with reflexion both by night and day,
had speciall care lest she should get awaie,
Comforts her selfe in louing, fearing not,
but chast desires ore long would get her out,
Loue is enfranchisd not in bonds retained,
spotlesse as Christall, for no soile can staine it.
The boistrous windes shut vp in iron grates,
on each occasion and intendment waites,
When they come forth their tempests hurrie more
grieu'd at their durance, then they did before.
That morn which sēds her glittering raies too soone,
sables her sunne in cloudes ere it be noone.
But when its long ere that her beames appeare,
we doe presage ere night they'le shine more cleere.
Thetis exiled from her marine seate,
a willing exile with the Sea-nimphs meetes,
To celebrate Achilles funeralls,
in sable robes, in dismall festiuals.
Each wept whole flouds of teares to wash his hearse,
whereon engrauen was a doleful verse;
That no hard hearted passenger came by,
but seeing it, would sheede teares instantly:
Some made relation of his valiant spirit,
some of the glory which his acts did merit:
And wofull Brusis one amongst the rest,
being his captiue, whom she loued best,
Emburied him with liquid streames of sorrow,
renewing griefe with each renewing morrow.
So did these louers, louers too sincere,
rise ere the morning daystar could appeare,
Bewayling much their parents frowardnesse,
that kept them from the support of happinesse.
Happie, if happy in enioying loue,
to see the Turtle billing with the Doue,
The skipping Kid, the Goate, the pensiue Hinde,
consorting each with other in their kinde:
Yet these two louers are debard from this;
what brute beasts haue, they haue not but in wish:
And wishes yield small comfort, poore releefe
to such as are prest downe with heapes of griefe.
O that heauens splendor, her translucent eie
should see, and seeing, pittie miserie,
Yet suffer man to be oppres'd therewith,
Making him die a neuer dying death.
Or why should man endu'd with reasons light,
In his owne bowels harbour such a fight,
As may subuert the pallace of the soule,
ecclipsing it, making her bewty foule;
Conuerting that by her depraued will,
as first seem'd good to some apparant ill;
Not gathering hony from each bitter flower
of discontent, nor reaping sweet of sower,
But in distractions passionate we run,
in headlong course till that we be vndone:
And then despairing, we reside in woe
shut vp in shelfes: we know not where to goe,
The sillie Bee that labours in her hiue,
in her Hyblæan works addres'd to striue,
With nature in proportion: seemes to make,
more for her selfe then nature for her sake,
In her digesting and disposing fit,
what she had gathered by her natiue wit,
She rests secure of loue, worse hap haue we,
opprest with loue-sick passions then hath she
But heauens haue so decreed; this is our lotte
Creatures that haue most reason, most should dote.
Thus each ore-shadowing eu'ning shadowed hope,
ayming at loue, loue was their onely scope:
At which they leuelled: But ('las) disdaine
soaring aloft, the frute of loue retaines:
Lockt from all comfort, shut from sweete repose,
she to their parents doth their loue disclose.
Telling them how their children made repaire,
vnto a chinke which breath'd a cooling aire.
Yeelding content enough: and they should see
that ere long time Thysbe would frutefull bee.
Their parents stamp'd, but Tymon most of all,
for hee was rich and feard his daughters fall.
Yet well he could haue brook'd her nuptiall bed,
if he were rich that should his daughter wed.
Fie on such Gould-adoring parentage,
that rests respectlesse both of youth and age,
Who measure loue by wealth are sure to haue,
Midas his eares, depriu'd of what they craue,
They wrest their childrens minds to make them taste,
the sweet of Gold, which works their baine at last.
Thus parents are as vipers to their seed,
since they their venome in their bosomes feede.
Which like to Naptha that being once inflamed,
Burnes of it selfe, and cannot be restrained.
But loue the more repressd the more confin'd,
encreaseth so much more in louers minde.
For though their watchfull eies did still looke ore them,
Gods pittying their distres did more deplore them.
And Ioue himselfe yields soueraigne remedy,
to these two louers fraught with misery.
And well might Ioue yield comfort to their wounds,
since he his passions on like passions grounds.
For he (though God) did doate as well as man,
transforming Leda to a milke white Swan.
Ioue in his aiery throne with piercing eies,
these louers griefes from high Olimpus spies,
And spying them oppres'd, pres'd downe with louing
their humane passions force a diuine mouing.
You fruitfull sprigs sprung of a fruitfull tree,
I heare your plaints, and I doe pittie yee,
That the ioynt tablet of two louing hearts
should be deuided into seuerall parts.
Hard-hearted Parents, made of Marble sure,
Or else they could not such distresse endure,
That their owne budding blossoms which did grow,
from their vnseasoned bosome should bestow
Their oile, their labour in affections straines,
yet kept in thraldome by their parents reynes.
But I that haue the Regiment aboue,
rules Cupids arrows, knows the vse of loue,
I that haue poasted down from heauens high sphere,
to Danae, Io, and the milke-maides here,
And to Latona bewties sacred Queene,
yet to this hower, as Ioue I nere was seene,
Nor euer knowen, such was our diuine power,
transuming shapes of plants and roarie showers,
Will pittie your affections and apply,
Vnto your wounds are present remedy.
For we (as men) do naught of woemen craue,
but what they well may giue, and we may haue.
If the oreshadowing cloudes whose duskie face,
obscures heauens splendor, Sols refulgent grace.
If misty vapours, foggy excrements,
thickned by mixture of grose elements,
If Heauen, earth, Sea, plants, stones, or serpents may
yield you content, or can your woes allay,
Rely on me; for Ioues high diademe,
was first ordained to succour wretched men,
And by the flagrant cresset of the Sunne,
wele either see your minds vnited one,
Or else my power shall contradict her selfe,
Making affection vassaile vnto pelfe,
VVhich were discordant musique, harsher straines,
then ere Pan sung among his countrie swains
For its not fit that hand-maids should command vs
or subiect powers should in their acts withstand vs.
Pelfe (worlds trash) in lowest ranke should sit,
loue as a Mistris framd to manage it:
For who will contemne the daie, the night adore,
set best behinde, and worst part before.
Ioue hauing in compassion seene their woes,
to Hesperus the euening star he goes,
And bids her shew her light, for by her aide,
she might yeeld succour to a helplesse maide,
Hesperus roused, rous'd before her time
in heauens horizon streight began to shine:
Ore cannoping heauens beawtie with a clowde,
all which by Ioue himselfe was well allowde,
Then wandring starrs in different dignity,
sent out their lights disparkled orderly.
Arctophilax begotten of the beare,
and Cassiopeiæ likewise did appeare,
The Pleiades, Orion, with the rest,
Castor and Pollux, whom Ioue loued best;
All these consort and make one constellation,
at Ioues command for louers recreation.
The heauens be-sprinkled thus with sundry lights,
limit the day by bringing on the night,
To comfort wearied spirits spent with toyle,
whose troubled brains the night-time shuld assoil.
For Ioue at first conceiuing mortall seede,
amidst his labors some repast to need,
Created night those cares to take away,
which had beene fostred on the toilesome day.
Night wished night, to Louers that desire
to be partakers of that heauenly fire,
Cupid (blind boy) infuseth in their brest,
which once infus'd engendreth their vnrest.
But its no matter, leaue vve cannot louing,
though bitter fruits redound to our approuing:
This gloomy night yeelds comfort to their wo,
For Ioue had showen the place, where they should go.
To Ninus toomb, a toomb to bury griefe
shaded with couert, fit for loues reliefe:
These two blest louers, blest in loues appearing,
addresse their eye for sight, their eare for hearing.
Lest their suspicious Parents should sift out,
Their fond intendments which they went about:
The Night was very darke, darke nights be best,
For such as on the day-time take no rest.
Since each disparkling beame which doth appeare,
yeelds to a Iealous louer cause of feare.
But duskie nights which Louers best approue,
giue free accesse of parly vnto loue.
Thisbe loue-sicke, for loue had made her sicke,
time thus occasioned, findes a pretie tricke
To gull her keepers and her Parents too,
which who can blame her, all that loue will doe:
Deere be our Parents loues, their wils, their blessings
by which we prosper: deerer be the kissings
Of those we loue sincerely from our heart,
for where they be there is our chiefest part.
No vnfrequented desert can remoue
our hearts from them whom we entirely loue.
No distance can disioine vnited mindes,
no labyrinth fram'd with Meanders winds:
We rest the same or else it cannot be,
that our affections ground on constancie.
Thisbe with creeping pace pac'd ore the floore,
oyling the hinges of the creeking dore,
Lest it should shew her meaning to her mother,
whose eies she feared more then anie other.
For they were too too iealous and would spie,
more in her dealing then her fathers eye:
For he was bed-rid and could hardly moue
his sencelesse ioints and knew not what was loue:
Yet this bed full of bones, this sap-lesse wretch
had sap within his chest, for he was rich;
And more, for which all wisemen-may deride him,
he euer lov'd to haue his golde beside him:
For on his trash he was so deeply rooted,
that he (fond-man could neuer sleepe without it:
Thus had he much, yet he desir'd much more
his gold, his Idole which he did adore.
And though he had no vse for that he got,
yet he from raking more surceased not.
Which punishment was first inflict'd by Ioue,
Rich men should haue no vse of what they loue;
But in an in-bred appetite to golde,
delight to haue it euery minute tolde:
VVhich being done making an endlesse paine,
they tell their trash and put it vp againe.
Thus did this aged Tymon: and respected,
wealth more then youth of girles most affected,
For richlesse was the scope he leuel'd at,
heele call none sonnes but men of good estate.
Worth worthlesse seemes, if worth haue no retire,
nor means by which their honour might aspire.
For beggar Irus whose estate was poore,
made Ithacus to driue him out of dore.
And seeing him arraide in beggars list,
in furious passion slew him with his fist.
Thus men are made respectlesse for their want,
and pouerty, though faire, yet whole not taunt?
Deeming them most vnfit of honours throne,
that haue more wit then fortune of their owne,
But he that poiseth worth as worth should be,
will not obscure true worth for pouertie;
Being the substance and maine difference,
twixt sauage beasts and humane excellence.
And more is trash inferior to the minde,
then pith of trees superior to the rinde:
Thysbe escaping, hies her to the place
which was appointed: her admired face
Cast such a lustre on the plaines belowe,
as steepy mountaines couered with snow.
In Maiden white appareld: maides should be
arraied so to shew their modestie;
Such piercing eyes she had, which shon so bright,
that they gaue day vnto a gloomy night:
So that each Wood-nimph, Faune and Satyre there,
rose from their caues perceiuing light appeare.
Siluanus god of woods and desert groues,
his shaggy head from off his pillow moues;
And halfe asleepe seeing his arbour shine
and all about him, long before his time
He girds his quiuer to him, and drew neere
to Ninus toombe, where sun-beames shon most cleere:
Where he no sooner came; ay me! too soone
to that vnluckie shrine that ominous toombe:
But seeing her he cast all sleepe aside,
sewing, and suting Thysbe for his bride.
Mirror of women, best of Natures art,
heare a poore wood-god that hath pledg'd his heart
To thee and to thy feature: heauenly queene
that would these flowry thickets well beseeme,
Sit thee downe here: this is an arbour sweet,
where al the wood nymphs vse each euen to meet
Making a concord; whose mellifluous sound,
would glad the birds and all the desert round:
The Nimphs shall make their praiers and renew,
each morne their hymnes, that they may pleasure you
The Muses nine from Pyerus shall descend,
and to our musique their attention lend,
Where if there anie discord chance to be,
Muses themselues will yeeld a remedie.
There Clio, Erato, and Melpomene,
Euterpe, Thalia, and Calliope,
Terpsychore, Vrania, and that sweet
tong'd Poly-himnia singing at thy feet
All these shall grace thee in this rurall plaine,
if thou canst brooke to loue a Countrie swaine:
Yet am I borne more high then mortall men.
deriu'd from gods euen of immortall stem,
Sprung my beginning, therfore scorne not me,
since if thou match thou match's with deitie.
The flowery shrubbs thou seest doe I command,
nay euen the Cedar which so high doth stand,
Rests at my power: there is no branch doth grow,
whose moisture doth not from Syluanus flow.
The sweetest spices of Arabia,
the preciou'st perfumes breth in Lidia,
Smell by my meanes: for my celestiall power,
can make each stinking weede a fragrant flower.
Then deare affect me, for no perfume's good
if I want thee that perfumes euery Wood.

Thysbees replie.

Thisbees reply.

It ill becomes, quoth she, your peerelesse state,
with silly maides to be importunate:
You should protect our weaknesse and defend
our brittle sexe, and euer be a friend
To womans weake proceedings, ceasing still
to drawe deuoted Virgins to your will:
We that are consecrate to Vesras shrine,
must in no lasciuious meetings spend no time.
If thou (quoth he) to Vesta dedicate
thy vowes, thy hests: what mak'st the here so late?
For well I know dame Vesta cannot bide
her maides should walke alone in euening tide.
And those that meane to satisfie her will.,
must both be chast and feare suspicions ill.
Thysbe stood mute, she knew not what to say,
without reply she went a prety way
And could not answer, for her tripping tongue
and modest silence told she spoke awrong.
For she nere Vesta lou'd nor Vestas order,
but this was best excuse the time afford'd her.
Churlish Syluanus (for he was a churle)
so to importune a poore Countrie girle,
Halfe mad with anger that she would not yeeld
vnto his suite: takes in his hand his shield,
And raging sternely, sweares he meanes to goe,
where he will plunge her in a depth of woe.
Are you so coy (quoth he) that youle denie,
to ioine with gods immortall deitie?
Wele learn young girles manners if we liue,
and make them rew, that they our power should grieue
With this he went fast trotting vp the hill,
pursuing hot the proiect of his will.
Intending to command some sauage beast,
vpon her, whom he lou'd, he lik'd to feast.
And reaching neere vnto the hill aboue,
he wagg'd his hand, and ask'd if she would loue?
But she denied him loue: doe you denie me?
fond? quoth Syluanus, sauages shall trie thee,
And thy affection: which no sooner said,
then he sent out a Lion to this Maide.
A Lion new returnde from rauening pray,
came to the fount, his blood to wash away.
Where with a shaking pace he seem'd to come
towards the place appointed Ninus tombe.
But Luna pitting poore Thysbes case,
sends out her light, to tell her who it was
That now approach'd her, whom no sooner spide,
then in a Caue, poore Thysbe did her hide.
But out alasse for feare, she ran so fast,
that she forgot her tire through too much hast:
For she all breathlesse, and quite out of winde,
running so fast did leaue her tire behind.
And as one carelesse of her weale or woe,
distressed thus, she knew not were to goe,
Carelesse of what she left or what she had,
not knowing what was good, from what was bad.
Yet nature grafts in all a natiue feare,
by which th' euent of all things doe appeare,
As we conceaue yeeld daunger to our state,
and feare by time, lest we should feare too late.
Thus she pent vp within a desart caue,
with sobs & sighes, expresse what she would haue,
For in that Caue she wish'd her loue were there,
For loues embraces would exempt her feare.
Oft did she thinke the Lion staid without,
and therefore trembling Thysbe made a doubt,
To take the open ayre, but pent within,
wish'd in her heart, she had caractred him,
Whom she admires and loues, whose sweet respect,
makes her to haue her parents in neglect.
But he too slow, aye me, too slow in doing,
being so forward in his formall woing:
Staies too too long being more warely kept,
by such sharpe keepers, that all night nere slept:
But as one grasing Hart the rest doth keepe,
by watchfull eyes warning the rest that sleepe;
So euer one was waking, that might call
vpon the rest if any thing befall:
The Lion hauing quencht his scorching thirst,
with springing water which he long'd for first:
Found Thysbes tyre, and with his bloody pray,
besmeard the same, which done, he went away.
Now in the end Pyramus tooke a time,
a time too late to answere loue diuine:
Yet in this silent course of nighterne race,
with quick recourse he runs vnto the place.
So that to see him frolick ore the plaine,
were worth more prise then Hipodamias gaine,
For golden apples drew her tempting eie,
But this young youth affects no vanity
But the true touch of loue: vaine, if abused;
but precious as pure gold, if rightly vsed.
Then who wil blame vs, labours to endure,
if we by labours can our loue make sure?
For constant loue no trauaile will eschew,
that constant loue by trauaile may renew.
Alcides he can serue the Lidian queene,
in spinning, carding, which doe ill beseeme
So stout a mirrors magnanimity,
but he must doe it, theres no remedy.
For when his manly nature did withstand it,
one glance of her could wel enough command it.
No spacious coufines nor indurate labour,
if these ore-past, could purchase ere her fauour,
Would he refuse: one smile reward enough,
for all the labours he had passed through.
Thysbe the trophie of his breathing course,
Thysbe the garland which doth him enforce.
Her he respects, and whiles he runs apace,
he meditates of Thysbes beuteous face;
Her comely feature made for Adons shrine,
whose Iuory orbs like Pelops shoulders shine.
Had made that deep impression in his heart,
that Nature seem'd to striue with Natures Art.
Nature had giuen her much, Art much the more,
Art decking that which Nature dres'd before.
For that same creature cannot perfect be,
where Art and nature ioyne not mutuallie.
If you would haue the module of true wit,
Nature creates, but Art must polish it.
Thysbe was perfect both in Natures hew,
and artificiall colours, which did shew,
As if both Art and Nature should contend,
to make her such an one no skill could mend;
For she was witty, pregnant, full of fauour,
Dictinna like, sent out a fragrant sauour,
That when she walkt' in Babilons faire streete,
she made the kennel with her perfumes sweet.
Pyramus comming, comming all too late,
to Ninus tombe expects his bewteous mate,
Whom when he could not finde, he fear'd her end.
Feare is an adiunct to a faithfull friend.
Roundly he goes vnto the siluer spring,
where all the water-nimphs were wont to sing,
In honour of their Goddesse and her bewty,
to whom they offred hymnes as was their duty.
He ask'd the Nimphes if they his Thysbe knew,
describing her, and eke her matchlesse hew:
And if they did, he praid them seeke about
their Nectar springs with him to finde her out,
For if you be immortall, as yon seeme,
and dedicate your seruice to your Queen,
A beter seruice sure you cannot doe her,
then to redresse them owe their seruice to her.
This if you will in your compassion doe,
I sweate each morne Ile offer thime to you.
Better then any Hyble, can affoord,
with musick sweete to which the heauens accord,
And euer rest deuoted to your shrine,
in that you dayn'd to glad this heart of mine.
The water-nimphs replide with curtuous cheere,
they knew none such, nor any did apeare,
But if it pleasd him, they their springs would seeke,
exquire each bushie shade, each priuate creeke,
To see if she were in their mansions hid,
which he assented to; all which they did:
But when with watrie tripping they had sought
both brake and brier; yet could not finde her out,
Wearied with their diurnall labour, left
Pyramus sighing, of all ioy bereft;
Yet did these nimphes bemone his hard mishap,
for sitting downe vnder Nereus lap,
They turnd their Warbling strings to that sad straine,
that all the woods re-eccoed them againe.
Each in their order sung their dolefull verse,
as if it had been ouer Thysbes hearse,
And tun'd their odes with that vnseasoned time,
as that brute beasts to pittie did incline,
For they in sable colours did portend,
that their two loues were neere a tragick end.
Thus shadie night, Sea-nimphs, stars, plan'ts & all
presage to them and to their loues a fall.
Yet Pyramus though sad, for he was sad
to haue those hopes extinguisht, which he had,
Seeks still about the tombe: sad tombe (quoth hee)
that hides my loue, so much admir'd of me:
Yet if thou wilt but tell me where she is,
I vow by Heauens Ile pardon whats amisse,
Yea I'le remit thine error and thy wrong,
for keeping her within thy chest so long,
Say, wilt thou tell me what became of her?
Didst thou her bewty in thy shrine inter?
Didst thou immure her in thy marble toombe?
what makes thee silent? bewty makes thee dumb:
Wilt thou so wrong a louer to conceale,
From him the mirrour of his ioy his, weale,
His heart, his liking euen the flower of youth?
and yet conceiues within thy heart no ruth.
Fie, fie for shame: ist fit that monuments
should so ecclipse natures best ornaments?
As to obscure the glory of her face,
that where she is giues honor to the place.
Thou much abstracts from trophies Ninus won,
in doing that which he would nere haue done.
Thou lessens much the honour he obtained,
loosing that fame which Ninus conquests gained.
For what great gaine or conquest i'st t'haue said,
I haue possession of a countrey maide.
A young vnnurtur'd girle fit for men,
vnfit for liuelesse tombes which couer them?
This said this doting young man, blind with louing,
thinking ould mouldy shrines had liuely mouing.
Mou'd with her loue, whom he did more esteeme,
then any gem that ere on earth was seene.
But when he saw into his error well,
He seem'd those loue-sick passions to dispell,
And to repaire vnto his search againe,
seeking each couert, each vnhaunted plaine,
Each thick-set hill, each groue that he might finde,
the diapason of his troubled minde.
At last too soone, by seeking long he found,
(Thysbe) not Thysbe, but her tire on ground.
Vnhallowed ground, vnseasoned her attire,
to crosse the passions of an hot desire.
Oh now conceiue what sorrows gall his brest,
to see the tire of her he loued best,
Be-smeard with bloud, for it all bloudy shews,
her sanguine colour tinctt with Lyons iawes:
Oft would hee looke vpon it, and would kisse,
the tire besmear'd with blood, wishing it his,
His fate, his fortune, to remaine with her,
since his long absence thus had iniur'd her.
How to remaine (quoth he) since she is dead,
oppress'd by death, inclos'd in mourneful weede?
How should I liue with her whose life is gone,
and hath left me (vnhappy me) alone.
Die, die, with her, with whom thou canst not liue,
For thou by dying shalt thy life repriue.
And haue her presence that enthroned is,
in perfect ioies of heauens Elisian blisse.
Yet stay awhile, this is not Thysbes tire,
stay there (fond wretch) against thy tongue a lyer.
This was her roabe, this was her comely weede,
which hauing lost her owner gins to bleede.
Oh Ioue what cause hadst thou thus to remoue
two, that had their intentions voud to loue,
Or why should thou this faire occasion show vs,
which being showne, dost seeke for to vndoe vs?
Be gods so iron-hearted, to require
constant affection with a dismall spite?
A sharpe reuenge it is, to set vs on,
and then to leaue vs when we are begun.
Did not high Ioue yeeld vs more hopes then these,
when he commanded Phœbus to sure ease,
For to disfuse his beames, bidding him go,
retire in hast vnto the shades below.
Calling for Luna to supply his place,
shrowding heauens lustre with her clowdy face.
That our escape suspected lesse might be,
by the darke vaile of nights obscurity.
But heauens I see, repine at our successe,
since Gods themselues by Fates haue shew'd no lesse,
To plunge my weale in woe, my loue in teares,
producing nought, but sighes, and fruitlesse feares.
Thou harsh tun'd Nemesis, thou tragicke ghost,
against whose acts my loue declaimeth most:
What cause hadst thou to sing this dolefull song,
vpon her herse that neuer did thee wrong?
She neuer raild against thy Soueraigne power,
but like an harmelesse doue, a fragrant flower;
Flourish'd secure at home, yeelding content,
by gracefull smiles, a maids best ornament:
She neuer curb'd thy rage, nor did she mell
with ought but loue, which made worst for her sell.
But Fates haue made the instrument of sinne,
respectlesse of our losse, so they may win.
The pretious spoyle of Thysbes bleeding soule,
whose sad mishap the plants themselues condole.
Yet thou remorselesse art, ill may betide thee,
that wold haue none to loue that liue beside thee.
Yet for all this thou canst not me depriue,
of louing her, whose life did mee reuiue,
For being dead, Ile rather chuse to die,
then liuing, lose her loving company.
This said: he takes her tyre, and kissing it,
vpon the fountaine banks did water it,
With dewie moisture of still-flowing teares,
which being shed, renuing drops appeares.
Teares liquefied the arbour where he sate,
which water nimphs perceiuing, wondred at.
Oft would he beat his brest, and teare his haire,
shutting his hopes in clouds of deepe despaire.
Oft would he curse the day, the houre, the night,
that banisht him from Thisbes gladsome sight.
Wishing that night had neuer beene descride,
for nere did night more harsh euents betide.
Oh Pyramus, and then he sigh'd to speake,
for gusts of sorrow made his hart-strings breake.
What meant thou to allure a simple maid,
to these vvild woods? her loue is well repaid,
That she should come vnto the place assignd,
and thou (base coward) come so farre behind.
Thou with a tardy pace came at thy leasure,
such slow-pac'd coursers ill deserue such pleasure,
Thou too precise, made bones of what thou did,
such fond precisenes seldome hath good speed.
Shee to enioy her ioy, cut off delay,
that she her minds perfection might display,
And with a course as quicke as Pegasus,
run ore these plaines to meet with Pyramus,
Which thou requited ill, basest of men,
which time shall character with scandalls pen.
A scandall to thy sexe, and to thy state,
to leaue thy loue in deserts desolate.
Oh what mishap had she to loue a swaine,
that could not yeeld her loue for loue againe?
Hard was her fortune to affect that creature,
who for a childish feare delaid to meet her.
The gods I know more forward would haue beene,
to meet loues Parragon, so faire a Queene.
As for her beauty, aye me, beauties faire,
with Ericina she might well compare;
And farre more modest: Venus had her mole,
but nere was Thysbe stain'd with bewties soile.
But thou hast stain'd her beauty by thy fault,
ruin'd that sort, which neuer had assault,
But by thy selfe, and by thy selfe too soone,
since by thy meanes her shrine is razed downe.
Turne thee to heauen, and loe the heauens dismaid,
to see the tragicke downefall of a maide:
Frowning at thee that was the cause of this,
causing her end that was thy Soueraigne blisse.
Turne thee to earth, and see her turn'd to earth,
which makes the caues below resound with mirth
That they enioy which thou didst once enioy,
reaping their comfort from thy deepe annoy.
Turne thee vnto the Sea, and thou shalt see,
The Nymphes and Syrens crying out 'gainst thee.
That should make promise, yet not promise hold,
calling thee coward, but thy Thysbe bold.
Bold, to aduenture on the gloomy night,
bold to encounter with Latonas light.
Bold in her course, swift in her cursiue mouing,
bold to escape, and constant in her louing:
Thus heauen, earth, Sea, concording all in one,
do simpathize with thy discording mone.
And wilt thou liue for this? O doe not liue,
but to requite her loue, let earth receiue
This little All of thine: which when they haue,
they may interre two louers in one graue.
Adioyning to this fount, a rocke there was,
so steepe and craggy, that no man could passe.
To which wild beasts repair'd, making their den
in th' hollow cauernes which did couer them.
Which seene by him: what doe not louers see?
with face deiected, thus discoursed he.
If any Lion or fierce sauage Beare,
lodge in this ragged rocke, or coucheth neere,
Let him come out, for heere is amorous food,
and cooling streames to wash away our blood,
That this may beare record by euery wight,
two faithfull louers perisht on one night.
But these are but delaies which cowards vse,
their trembling passions seeking to excuse,
Cast off vaine feare, feare is a vassalls weede,
and place true Resolution in her steed.
This said with praiers vnto his houshold Gods.
Offring to Venus altar, myrtle rods,
Which grew hard by that spring where he did fit,
with other ceremonialle which befit
A louers last farewell: he wisht his friends
for their too hard restraint to make this mends,
And to erect his shrine by Ninus tombe,
as witnes of his loue in time to come.
Which said: with hand resolu'd, resolu'd to dye,
with sword vnsheath'd, he ends his misery.
Thus hauing ended, ended ere begun,
for thus the thred of his short life was spun.
The sad euents and obsequies ensue,
which thus in briefe my Muse relates to you.
Thysbe, poore Thysbe, trembling all this while,
shut vp within her caue: began to smile,
And with a cheerefull countenance cast off feare,
for in that coast, no ill she saw appeare.
And much delighted with her speedy course,
vnto the springs, sad springs, shee made recourse.
She tuck'd her cloaths vp, for the euening dew,
had wash'd the herbs that in the forrest grew;
And tucking vp as Country maids doe vse,
the high bet path to Ninus tombe to chuse;
Where she (vnhappy she) no sooner came,
then like Narcissus eccho, sounds his name,
VVhom she affects, admires, whose onely face,
drew her (poore wench) vnto that dismall place.
Come, come, quoth she, thou knowst not how to wo
Come to thy Thysbe she vvill tell thee hovv.
She wil prescribe the rules, with fruits of woing,
for fruitlesse be those fruits that haue no doing.
We that doe hazard our good names for men,
if they'l not pleasure vs: what profit then,
Of all our toylsome labour we sustaine,
that reape no haruest from such gusts of pain?
We patient are to beare, and what we bore,
we doe accept, and wish it ten times more,
That we might pleasure you: how fond are we?
The weaker sort beares your infirmity.
But its our Nature Nature hath ordain'd,
mans strength by womans weaknesse is sustain'd.
In this same cloudy night, with what desire,
did all my thoughts, and my intents aspire?
To that same treasure thou hast promis'd me,
promise is debt, it must be kept by thee,
With what affection haue I cross'd these plaines,
cheered by wood-nimphs, singing plesant strains,
And dans'd Laualto till I came to thee,
longing for that which thou didst promise mee.
Sad Philomela skared from her rest,
sung with a pricking slothorne at her brest,
And sung of Tereus something, what I know not,
which if I knew, yet would I neuer show it.
For Tereus impious in his prophane life,
to wrong a sister, and so chast a wife.
Sustains the torture of his wickednesse,
transform'd into a Bird: whose filthinesse,
Loues marish places, flies the solid ground,
good reason why: his conscience was not sound.
For Tireus was a King and for his lust,
by Ioue himselfe, was from his scepter thrust.
A sensuall Prince to wanton motions stirr'd,
chang'd from a prince, vnto a loathsome bird,
Thus did I passe the silence of the night,
till I arriu'd within my louers sight,
Which yet I cannot doe: oh why should we,
to get a little sport, paune modesty?
These shady thickets, and that secret caue.
those pratling Sea-nimphes, & this marble graue,
Beare all record what trauell I haue taken,
yet like a Turtle of her make forsaken,
Cannot enioy my loue, aye me, vnkind,
that seemes inconstant, to a constant mind.
VVhy should our fauors so deuoted rest,
to them, whose hardned harts bred our vnrest?
And make vs subiect to more inward griefe,
then ere their comforts can affoord releefe.
But thou art too too rash: (beleeue me sweet,)
in more remisse Appearance doe I greete,
Thy diuine beauty; pardon what is said,
conceyue no harme spoke by a harmelesse maide;
For if thou should (as sure I thinke thou dost,)
lie hid vnder some bush, and hearst this nois'd,
This shrowd inuention, gainst thy loue and thee,
thou might as well condemne my speech and me.
VVhy should I speake against so hallowed shrine,
to whom I haue bequeath'd both me and mine?
Or why should I detract from that faire sunne,
vvhich (if ecclips'd) my glistring raies bee done?
Then enuious thou, to daze that glorious bright,
whose first arising gaue thy setting light.
Rouse vp thy selfe for shame, and honour him,
whom if I get, heauens treasure I doe winne.
More prise and richer then those sisters three,
which kept the apples of faire. Hespery.
This was no sooner said, then seriously,
ech Bush, ech place, she sought that bordered nie,
Doing as children vse, that seeke about,
their hid companions, till they find them out.
Hard by this tombe, a Mulbery there was,
encircled round with tufts of greenest grasse:
Which tree look'd once as white as white could be,
but now was chang'd, like to the Eben tree.
Whose blooms were black as iear, and which was more
it lost the forme which it retain'd before.
Vnder these shady spraies, lay Pyramus,
depriu'd of sence, a scene too ominous.
Which when poore Thysbe, iudge what tis to see
a constant loue in such perplexity?
For sure I am, such heapes of passions cloid her,
that in his death a double death annoid her.
Long time she brethlesse stood aboue her loue,
depriu'd of sences, for they could not moue,
And as one liuing in a lethargy,
hath not the vse of sences faculty;
But sleeping seemes secure of any ill,
so in this sencelesse mouing, stood she still:
At last awaked with watry drops downe-falling,
of her loues name, she fell to instant calling.
Calling him by his name: awake, arise,
with that he heaued vp his heauy eies.
Thysbe (saith she) calls on thee, fie awake,
leaue off thy sencelesse dulnesse for her sake.
Thysbe no sooner spake, but at her name,
he op'd his eies, and shut them vp againe.
Such was the force of Thysbe, that being dead,
by loues reflexe, he mou'd his louely head.
And when he lay him downe, as laid before,
yet his two staring eies, still glimmering more
Were prest vpon his loue, as if his heart,
was giuen her by his eyes at lifes depart.
For they still gaz'd vpon her, as if he
had seen the heauen where he wisht to be.
Thrice did he moue his head, yet all in vaine,
for wanting strength, it bended backe againe.
Thrice did he kisse the ground, thrice kisse the ayre,
Supposing that his Thysbe had beene there.
And when he could not find her, hee vnrips,
his loue effects, and smackers with his lips.
Thysbe conceiuing what he meant, admired,
his feruent loue, and to a shade retired.
Hard by this Tombe where with all blubbered face,
she made this sad narration to the place.
Haplesse and hopelesse is mine ending friend,
cruell the Fates that should such torments send,
Vnto a faithfull Louer: heauens haue done,
that which the plants within this forrest shun.
They lose their forme, their feature and their shape,
and what they doe, they doe it for his sake.
For this same Tree, beares record of our wracke,
decolored quite from white, to dismall black,
And this same ground, all in a gore of bloud:
No chirping bird within this fatall wood,
And this for loue of him, that now is gone,
leauing his forlorne Thysbe all alone.
Hard was mine hap, to see his dolefull end,
at whose sad hearse the Fates themselues attend:
Hard was mine hap, more harsh the course of time,
to crop my loue, my dazie in his prime.
Hard was his hap to extinguish his desire,
with apparition of a bloody tire:
Hard was his hap to forrage heere so late,
to misse his loue, and meete so soone with Fate.
Turne to thy loue, see if thy vitall breath,
can call him from the slumber of pale death.
See if thou canst reuiue his gasping soule,
for loe his eies within his head doe rowle.
Embrace his iuory necke with foulded armes,
destill life in him by thy louing charmes.
Buzze in his eares of loue, it will not bee,
his dying sences haue no mind of thee.
Thus round empalld with greefe, was Thysbes mind,
no hope of life in him can Thysbe find,
For he grew stiffe engor'd with bloudy wound,
and by his bloud fast glued to the ground.
Thysbe espied her Tire which hee did hould,
fast in his hand, and did the same enfould,
As if it were some Antidote to cure
his gaping wound and make him ere endure:
Vnhappy Tire (quoth she) vnhappy were,
that gaue occasion to my loue of feare.
Thou that hast prest my soule in anguish more,
then all the robes which ere I wore before.
Thou wandring stragler, sliding from mine head,
gaue the first onset to this vgly deede.
For if thou hadst not been, my loue had liu'd,
that now of sence & mouing is depriu'd.
What hap had I at first to put thee on,
when darke Latonas lights were drawing on,
Or what misfortune had I for to leaue thee,
since thy departure doth so greatly grieue mee.
It needes must grieue me: for it cuts my heart,
as if my soule from body should depart.
He was my soule, my body cannot breath,
When as my soule is seised on by death.
Why should I haue such curious regard
to Nightern robes, whē meaner would haue serud?
For well I know it was my loues desire,
to meete my selfe and not my curious tire.
Fie on this nice precisenesse weomen vse
in garish dressings: men should weomen chuse,
Not by their bodies habit, but their minde,
in lists of vertue, and respect confinde.
We that doe loue as we protest we doe,
must not get husbands with a painted show,
Like puppets in a play, addres'd to play
strange acts by night, to purchase loue by day.
Best honour that beseems a countrey maide,
is to be modest, in her actions staid.
For this (beleeue me) modest lookes doe win
more hearty loue, then baits of tempting sin.
And yet we cannot leaue lasciuious straines,
so draw young men to our immodest traines.
But if young girles would be rul'd by me,
They'l make their preciou'st iewel modestie.
Thysbe with this beheld the bloody blade
which lay all moistned vnder that same shade
Where her true louer lay, and seeing it,
with many a balefull ban she cursed it,
Calling it cruell: Cruell sword (quoth she)
that in this sort did part my loue and me,
What made thee so remorselesse, so hard-hearted,
to see two constant louers so soone parted;
Parted by thee, fie on thee for the deede,
thou murdered him, and makes my soule to bleede,
Bleede in despaire of seeing him againe,
who gaue a cordiall to my toilsom paine.
He was the Saint that liuing I adored,
this is his Trunke these marrie eies deplored.
Yet ioyne with me to honour his sad hearse,
let plaints and teares thine hardned temper pierce,
Pierce thine owne bosome, Bosom if thou haue,
that brought my loue so timelesse to his graue.
And thou vnhallowed Tombe that couers him,
who first enlargd this Empire, and did win,
Trophies of honour, which remaine to thee;
in times succession to posteritie.
Open thy marble bosome and receiue,
two friends at once in one renowmed graue,
Thou hides the honour of a worthy King,
that liuing did great conquests hither bring,
Send him abroade out of thy shrine, with speed,
and take vs two to thee in Ninus steed:
But thou wilt answers thou should wrong him then,
to place our reliques mongst such prince-like men;
Which is not so: For rest assur'd that we
purchase more fame then euer purchas'd he.
He conquered Realmes by fates auspicious:
But thou may trust me, more is got by vs:
For we haue conquerd Loue, which he could neuer,
which in our praise shall be recorded euer.
What if his name be spread in euery place,
this sounds not much vnto his reliques grace,
Thou couers but his ashes turnd to dust,
we turne to earth, and so all Princes must.
If that thy Monument were so diuine,
as the huge gulfe of mountaine Inarime.
That doth possesse Typhæus Gyant fieres,
and shrouds him liuing in her hollow bieres.
Where he with rest of his aspiring rout,
at end of each seauen yeers doe turne about.
Yet pressed downe with hills that lie aboue them,
for all their strength they hardly can remoue them.
Then wort thou famous (for gard might betide thee)
to haue such liuing wonders sleepe beside thee.
But now thou art not so: for what is he,
that he can challenge more of death then we?
He might whilst he suruiu'd and bore the sway,
his purple flags in euery coast display.
He might command, and haue what he commanded,
but death, pale death now swaies, & she'l withstand it.
Then honourd hearse, if hearses honour haue,
yeeld to my sute, and perfect what I craue.
Doe not denie me: to deny me this,
were to depriue thee honour me of blisse.
Nay doe not smile, (for I doe see thee smile)
if that our bones thou in thy brest compile,
And recollect them after Thysbes death,
the Nimphes themselues shall set a laurell wreath
Upon thy back: e'r honourd shalt thou be,
for this good turne thou did my loue and me.
But if thou scorne my vows, and cal them vaine,
yeelding no eare to louers that complaine,
Rest Well assured the Nimphs reueng'd will be.
And for our sakes will quite demolish thee.
When trusty Aiax & Achilles came,
to Patrocles tombe, with teares they bath'd the same
For euery word they spake of Patrocles,
drew teares from them, as streames from Caucasus.
Whose ragged top sends riuers out amaine,
and being sent, renews her springs againe.
So they deplor'd his death, his sacred hearse,
ranck set with embleames and with dolefull verse.
The swanes of Caister and eke of Poe,
came to ensable him in songs of woe:
Since which sad time the Poets haue reported,
that each daie twice the swannes haue there resorted.
Passing by flockes along the Greequish plaine,
seeking by songs to make him liue againe.
But when it would not be, the Swans there swore,
that from that time they nere would warble more;
But at their death which they performe: for why
they neuer sing but hower before they die.
Why should a Grecian haue such honour done,
that neuer any Trophies ere had wonne,
But slaine by Hector: for no fame he had
of doing greatly good, or greatly bad.
And yet forsooth he must characters haue.
in golden letters ore his worthlesse graue,
In polisht marble must his shrine be set
in saphires, tophies and in british ieate.
Thus must he haue respect, when we, god wot,
must lie obscure as if men knew vs not.
And yet our fame deserues more praise then he,
more grace, more glorie, and more memorie:
Time shall race out that marble hearse of his,
time shall amend what time hath done amisse.
For we shall liue in spite of Fates decree,
when lowe interr'd this famous Greeke shall be.
Loue cannot die, we loued and therefore death
shall crowne our hearse with times immortal wreath,
And though we die we loue and liue in dying,
loue to pale death perpetuall life applying.
Why should prince Ilus acts haue such respect
whose toomb with precious emeralds bedeckt?
For well I know such acts did neuer he,
In amorous passions of true loue as we,
Yet Batias toomb must haue inscriptions faire,
to shew what man of birth was buried there.
A crowne vpon his head, and in his hand,
a royall scepter which did Troy command,
These must exalt his glory and make roome,
for Fames resounding trumpe in time to come,
And as that hearse doth memorize his name,
so after times by it might doe the same.
O thou iniurious time, that time obserues,
yeelding not honour as our deeds deserues,
Dost partialise and modest bounds surpasse,
bestowing honour on each worth-lesse Asse:
Ilus a stranger was vnto thy soyle.
an vp-start Prince, who for a little toyle
To win a crowne, was thus aduauns't by thee,
from Beggers ragges to Princes dignitie.
Looke at his low beginning whence he came,
what wore his coper-mates his deiected name,
Looke at his pompe, how ill he could beseeme,
the stile of King, or she the name of Queene.
And then exile his glory from thy coast,
thy great'st disgrace of whom thou gloriest most:
Receiue our ashes, ashes of true loue,
keepe them as hallowed in thy sacred Groue,
Receiue our ashes and abandon his,
that liuing, kissing, dying we may kisse.
For what great grace wilt be in time to come,
vnto thy soile, to say, thou keep'st the toomb
Of two true-louers, mirrors of affection,
louing so long till loue came to perfection.
Perfect in loue, so perfect in our loue
that nought, (sans death) could our affections moue
And yet in death we languish not in louing,
though death depriue vs of all vitall morning
For we conceiue more ioy intoomb'd together,
then if we liu'd depriu'd the one of other.
More must I say to seale these obsequies;
for death is fearefull and inuents delaies,
And most of all in vs: a weaker brood,
the talke of death yeeldes feare to woman-hood.
And yet, me thinkes I stay from him too long,
and in my stay I doe him double wrong.
First to depriue him life, and then begin
with tardie pase aloofe to follow him.
Well Ile prepare my selfe, the Fates decree
two Louers should sustaine their crueltie.
And yet not cruell, cruelty is showne
when either is debarred of his owne.
But we by Cupids meanes, that pur blind boy.
obtaine by death we could not earst enioy.
Death yeelds more comfort then our life time did.
shewing our loue which long before was hid.
No priuate crauie nor no secret chinke
need we finde out, nor fearefull need we shrinke.
For Parents hot pursuite we rest secure,
since heauen our hearts, as earth our corps immure.
Wee need not haue our Parents in suspect,
they may rest carelesse now whom we affect:
For well I know we can be hardly seene,
twixt heauen and earth, so great a space between.
Thus loue an heauenly motion doth ascend,
from earth to heauen to gratulate her friend,

Thysbees EPICÆDIVM.

Yet Thysbe stay thine hand: thine obsequies,
desire more celebrating exequies;
Die not intestate, in this desert groue,
but consecrate in token of thy loue
Thine hests to Vesta yet let Uesta know,
Thysbe vnwilling is enforced so.
Then let thy Parents, Parents though vnkinde
By Natures lawe, some short memorials finde,
Of thy affection: Swannes before they die,
leue pensiue odes and warble merrily.
Yet must I needs declaime against your feare,
iealous of hurt where no hurt could appeare:
For I am sure nere was your thriuing blissing,
more deere to me then was my louers kissing.
Oh then vnkind vnkindnesse did not fit,
our chaste desires that could not bridle it.
Loue was the hott'st when it did seeme conceal'd,
and hid in ashes, yet in time reueal'd.
Then blame your selues, not vs: you caus'd our end,
barring a louer from her long fought friend,
Which we doe pardon if youle let vs haue,
our toomb in one, our ashes in one graue.
Which if you shall performe our hope extends,
our disioin'd corps conioin'd you make amends.
Well do I know our funerals renew,
currents of teres and streames of griefe in you.
And many pagent mixd with liquid teares,
will make attendance on our desolate beres,
Many distreaming drops will dim your eie,
to see two louers end so suddenly.
Yet all in vaine, being dead, your teares restraine:
for teeres cannot recall vs back againe.
The Nimphes themselues with Poplar twigs will make
an osier basket for Idalias sake,
Wherein collect you may such fragrant flowers,
as shall adorne our monumentall bowers:
Yet when you spreade your flowers ech in degree,
Strow more on his side then you strow on me.
He was more constant, he did first begin,
I like his shadow did but follow him.
He came vnto the place, and spite of death
seeing my tire engor'd did lose his breath.
I like an Ape, to imitate my loue,
follows his worth, his presence to approue.
A glorious presence where the gods accord
all wealth, all ioy, Elizium can affoord.
Fruitfull Elysis where ech constant mate,
raignes in fruition of his happie state,
VVhere Hero smiles to grapple with her deere,
Iealous of nothing, for no cause of feare
Can crosse loues action? theres no Helespont,
But the sweet relish of a Nectar fount
Hight the Castalian fount which Gods adore,
where hauing drunke thei're neuer thirsty more.
By this renowmed brooke, shall he and I,
prattle of loue, and parents cruelty.
Yet so wele prattle that we may receaue,
loues haruest purchas'd by our ircksum graue.
A happy Graue, that is a spicie vrne,
where louers vse to smile, surcease to mourne,
For by their dying they doe more obtaine,
then euer here enthral'd they thought to gaine,
And can that death be cald a death? O no;
for by that death from death to life we goe.
Reaping the blossomes of experienc'd good,
which while we Pilgrims were, we neuer could.
Then doe not weepe deere friends; for we enioy,
the hauen of our hopes, where no annoy
Can make disturbance, but empal'd by Ioue,
we get renoume for our surpassing loue.
Let no sad Odes our burials solemnise,
nor let no teares com trickling from your eies,
The solemne fire which euer old hath been,
our buried reliques will full well be seem:
Yet when you burne our ashes, you should see,
His ashes haue the vpper hand of me:
For Cupid with his mother Queene of loue,
Pres'd downe the female, set the male aboue.
Then for an order (since the Gods ordaine it)
It were presumption for you to restraine it.
For rest assured if we had mist this chance,
we had obaid ere this their ordinance.
O let our loues recorded be by you,
and when you sing vnto our hearse adew,
Euer imprint this caurion in your minde.
Be not vnto your childrens loues vnkinde.
Hang not the willow token of disdaine
vpon our Toome: for that each country swaine
Can set vpon his shrine: let Venus tree,
the louely mirtle shew our constancie.
If you want any rites or solemne hestes,
which may beseem our graues: the birds protests
Each in their order to solemnise them,
and gods themselues for to eternize them:
Each mourning Turtle hauing lost her make,
will mourning make resort for Venus sake.
And sweet Leucothoe will represent
of Vmolus odours a delicious sent.
The Nighterne owle, that night wil cease from prey
howling by night, as she did howle by day.
The little Batt (though fearefull heretofore)
will flocke amongst the rest and feare no more.
Thus euery Bird, for it is Gods desire,
will with their presence decke our funerall fire.
To purge our guilt dame Venus promis'd me,
shele goe to heauen with lowe and bended knee.
And well I know Ioue, Uenus loues so well,
he will belieue what tale so ere she tell.
Then for her loue let Venus altars smoke,
and in each corner of her Temple looke;
No ornament which best may her be-fit,
Be there awanting but to perfect it.
You know our Cittie much relies on her:
for by her succour no distresse can sturre
The prosperous sailes of our prosperitie,
but like a sterne she's euer fixed nie,
To rid her from those rocks vnto the shore,
in liew whereof we do her shrine adore.
Yet ere I die I must take leaue of you,
you sacred mansions which my woes renew:
Thou oliue-tree that planted was so nie
vnto my fathers house where I came by
This last vnhappie night: thou tender vine,
whose supple slips these fingers oft did twine.
Thou rosie border set with roses fayre,
to which each morne I vsed to repaire,
And rob thee of thy store to bewtifie
my haplesse tire with crimson puritie,
Farewell at once farewell, long may the dew
of siluer hair'd Aurora water you,
Long may you flourish, this I onely craue,
that with your flowres each morne you deck my graue.
Such sweetes, such fragrant roses represent,
that your repose may make it redolent.
Send out your spicy odours and attend,
with Hyble fruites vpon my bleeding friend;
For manie time and oft hath he and I,
chas'd one another full lasciuiously:
And if he chaunc't to be too slow in running,
I would hold back and linger for his comming.
But of all monuments I bid adew,
broad shadowing beech-trees to the sight of you:
You many times haue yeelded sweet repose
vnto our loue and seasoned haue our woes,
By your contented shades blest be you euer,
and like Elisian-shades fade may you neuer.
O many times haue we two sported there,
(for we alone were priuiledged there)
And twisting nose-gaies we our flowers would hide,
lest by some Satyre we should be espide;
Oft would we crop sweete flowers and hauing cut them,
within our wicker baskets we would put them:
And when we more had gathered then we needed,
we gathred still for so our loue exceeded,
That euery flower we cropt we did apply
vnto the flower of our virginitie.
And thou vnhappy Pine that mounts so hie,
as if thou meant by height to tutch the skie;
Thou mai'st repine at fates that murdred me,
since Thysbees hand each morne did cherish thee,
Oft haue I planted grafts within thy stemme,
which now are growne so high they shadowe men
And with a Water pot which I did bring
each morne by time; I made thine arms to spring:
But now, poore Pine, pine maist thou now and die,
for none that I know cherish thee but I:
Now shall thy shadowing branches fall away,
their falling leues to winters fury paie.
And none remaines there now to pittie thee,
When I am dead that liuing nourisht thee;
But be content; shed teres in loue of me,
and when thou hear'st my death deiected be:
Cast down some withered leues & send them hither,
portending thus much, we must die together;
This if thou dost I will thee thankfull call,
and wil with Laurel thy sad head empall:
That though thou die, yet that thou diest with me,
in after-times still honoured thou maist be.
And thou straite chinke to which full many time
we made repaire: through thee our loue did shine,
And spearst her beames; farewell, for neuer more,
shall we resort to thee as heretofore;
Thou wast the author of our first vndoing,
for by thy meanes thou gauest vs means of woing,
Giuing eyes liberty, which eyes so wounded
that by their passions passions new rebounded,
Yet we do thank thee for thy fore-past loue,
for by our deaths the gods themselues approue
Our constant minds, recorded which must be
in heauens conuentions to our memorie.
O happy thou whilst our two fragrant breaths
made thee so rich, impouerisht by our deaths:
For this I thinke, this is my prophesie,
nere shall such lips bestowe their breath on thee,
When thou shalt heare of our discording end,
some softned teares vpon our funeralls spend:
Let thine hard marble be dissolv' to streames
of liquid water, since those radiant beames
Which our reflecting eyes the marble gaue
might pierce him more, then euer Lyricks haue
The sauage beasts, whose natures were made tame,
at the rehearsall of sweet Amphions name:
What then should Bewtie? whose attractiue power
commands stones, serpents & sweet budding flowr:
What should the Splendor of faire Beawties eie
act, since such acts were done by harmonie?
Open your flinty bosome, let remorse
shed riuolets of teres vpon my coarse:
Or if you will not so, at least restraine
your ayrie chinke, and shut it vp againe:
Let not such Monuments liue when we die,
for they'le augment our Parents iealousie:
That as we lov'd, kiss'd toy'd when we're liuing,
so we may loue, kisse, toy at lifes depriuing.
Then shut that crany vp lest after time,
impute the fault vnto that chinke of thine.
This last record by Thysbe thus recorded
bred floods of teres: for teres their sighs afforded,
the Balme-trees wept, their teres concrete in one
distilled into th' substance of a stone:
Which stone it seemes, did after couer them,
for after times found it laid ouer them.
With many faire inscription which did shew
of loue recorded neuer none more true,
Then this of Thysbe and her louing mate,
supposing mutuall death a blessed state,
A state more blest in that they had their wish,
Thysbe had hers and Pyramus had his;
They were depriv'd of louing in their liuing,
but by their deaths the gods themselues were giuing
Tokens of loue, for they enioied their loue,
which no transparent iealous eye could moue.
Empall'd by diuine power, heauens maiesty,
to honour them, that honour'd constancie;
And which was more: dame Venus (as we read)
yoking her Doues, came to high Ioue with speed,
Her milke-white doues with ayrie coloured wings,
vnto Ioues throne their beawteous lady brings;
Where she with smiling countenance, for her smile,
all foggie mists Olympus did exile,
Thus spake to Ioue, who seeing her did grace her,
and with enfolded arms 'gan to embrace her.
Ioue smilde at this, for he desired change,
and therfore oft from heauē to earth would range
For pleasure and delight: variety
willing vnwilling, wrested this reply.
This said: bright Uenus happy to receiue
The full accomplisht sute which she did craue,
Takes leaue of loue, and taking leaue he kist her,
amidst his kisses with his prayres he blist her.
Uenus to Ida hies Idas she sends
Embassadour to Thysbe, who attends,
The Gods decree; where hauing come at last,
tels to Thysbe all discourse was past
Twixt Ioue & Venus, yet not all she told,
for Venus bade him loues intendments hold,
Lest his narration should more sorrow breede,
then any comfort drawne from humane seede:
For well I know no Ioue so precious
to her, as was her louely Pyramus.
When Idas had exprest what Ioue decreed,
he tooke his leaue of Thysbe, and with speede
Return'd to Venus, Uenus Queene of loue,
whom he with Mars found lying in a groue
Of leauy Poplars, sporting midst their pleasure.
Uulcan was absent, they had time and leisure.
Where we will leaue them, and swift Idas traine,
and to our loue-sick Thysbe turne againe.
Thysbe address'd to die, yet long in dying,
Draws courage to her, & that blade espying.
VVhich was be crimsond with the bloudy gore,
of that same murder it had done before;
Takes it into her hand, (her hand God wot
as soft as downe, such weapons handled not
Before this time, (and this time was too soon
to vanquish bewty, and to cut it downe.
Poore wench she knew not how to vse the blade,
for other armour Nature had her made.
But like an vntraind Souldier wanting skill,
knows not to fight, yet vseth his good will,
Trauerse his ground as other souldiers doe,
yet hath no method, for he knows not how:
Euen so this heauenly creature handled it,
long time vncertaine how to mannage it.
At last by reason, reason did acquaint,
which was the pummell, which the fatall point,
Grasping the blade which she before did take,
to th' shade which shadowed Pyramus shee spake.

Siluan. Epicædium.

This done in silent passage of the Night,
when stars shone fair & bright in Thetis sight,
The rural Wood-nimphes did their Odes display,
sabled with woes: which woes to take away,
They sung these verses, verses ominous,
It is not fit that death and enmity
should wage their battaile euer mutually.
For none I know, but when their foe is dead
they scorne base enuy in their brests to feede.
But let vs to our worke, and build vs bowres,
compos'd of fragrant blossomes, and of flowers,
Hard by this tombe, this herse, this desert graue,
where we may giue what constant loue doth craue,
An ode displaying passion: and relate,
the sad euent of loues vnhappy state.
Each nimph addresse her to her dolefull voice,
that we may charme the furies with our noise;
And draw their haplesse parents from their cell,
to heare the sadd Narration we shal tell.
So shall our first-mornes mone performed bee,
in honour of these louers constancy.
This ode thus tuned in more dolefull sort,
Then any Muse of mine can make report:
Such errours made resound both farre and neere,
that these sad straines came to their parents eare.
They much perplex'd to heare such wofull newes,
vvhich floods of teares in their moist eies renues;
With speed they could, (which speed but easie was,)
they made recourse vnto that forlorne place.
Teares trickled downe, as drops from Ætas hil.
which with their streams ech hollow caue did fill
For woes exceeded more in that their Tombe,
had bard them hope of future ioys to come.
For they were old, old folkes desire to see,
a good successe vnto their progeny.
But now no hope, mishap had cross'd their hope,
e're to attaine at their desired scope.
Oh what salt seas for seas they seem'd to be,
no drops but floods, vvhich run incessantly
From their dim eies, for teares had made them dim,
which, nere the lesse, they took much pleasure in.
Oft would the Mother clip her Thysbe round,
vvhich lay all sencelesse on the bloudy ground,
And vvith a kisse (as old vviues vse to doe,)
her entire loue, her withered lips did show.
Turne to thy Mother (quoth he) or receiue,
thy dolefull Mother in thy haplesse graue;
Acknowledge her that first, aye me too soone,
brought thee to light, vvhich is eclyps'd & done;
I nourished thee, and with a kind embrace,
made me an Idoll of that beauteous face;
For I conceiu'd, deceiu'd I could not be,
No birth more perfect, then the birth of thee.
Thus did the doting trot deplore her fall,
with dropping nose, faint breth, more then them all
That did attend her passion: for the rest
did more represse those passions she exprest,
Nor is it proper, well I know, that man
should shed his teares with ease as women can;
For they more prompt to comfort, yeeld releefe,
to such as are opprest with heapes of greefe,
And can conceale their sorrow, as is fit,
knowing the meanes and way to bridle it.
They thus remaining ore their childrens graue,
the hatefull ground, which did their corps receiue,
They did consult how they might expiate
that wrong of theirs, which they had done so late.
Which whilst they did aduise, they straight did see,
their childrens vowes, grauen in an Oliue tree.
Which were to this effect. “Surcease to mourne,
“and place our seuerall ashes in one Vrne.
For whilst we liu'd, we lou'd, then since we dye,
let one poore vrne preserue our memory.
And let this day recorded bee by you,
and festiue kept: eternise louers true.
Giue vpper hand to him, for he was first:
respect with care, our bones be not disperst
Amongst vnhallowed reliques which will staine
the glorious Trophies which our loue did gaine,
Bee not vnkind vnto your childrens loue,
but what they like, let your consent approue,
For if your minds disposed so had beene,
this spacicious glasse of woe you nere had seene.
But we forgiue, forget, so you performe,
what we haue wish'd: we feast, cease you to mourn.
These hestes, these rites thus read; without delay,
they sought their forepast guilt to take awaie,
And rinse their former ill by present good,
yeelding to loue which they before with-stood:
For admiration rapt them, and they saw,
no curbe could hold the reins of Venus lawe:
For she enioyn'd them loue, which they obey'd,
which by no Parents wishes could be stai'd.
Each in their order did their obsequies,
with solemne rites as their last exequies,
Making a fire of Iuniper compos'd,
in which their louely corps seem'd well dispos'd,
Which were consum'd to ashes and conseru'd,
in one small pot, as wel their fame deseru'd.
This vrne, poore vrne, which kept their ashes sure,
was made of Brasse, that it might ere endure,
And as a relique, reliques then were vsed,
in Nimrods Temple in a chest enclosed.
There was it put, to which as some report,
all constant louers vs'd to make resort.
No marriage rite was to be consummate,
Before they did this relique inuocate,
That it would be propitious to their loue,
in signe where of each gaue a Turtle-Doue,
To explicate their truth, their constancie,
which they obseru'd for euer solemnly.
Thus were these two with honour well rewarded,
their ashes, as times Monuments regarded,
Kept and reseru'd for Fame, Fame grac'd the earth,
in suffering Nature bring so faire a birth
Into the world, which world vnworthy was,
to haue two mirrors and to let them passe.
But time, vnthankfull time, too soone forgot
the Gem she had, as if she had it not.
Soild in the lustre, lustre it had none,
depriu'd of Fame, when her renowne was gone,
For Parents breathlesse were, and with their birth,
by times succession were interr'd in earth.
In selfe-same earth for they desir'd to haue,
their childrens hearse their vrne, their comely graue
Which hauing got, men neuer did adore,
their sacred hearse as they had done before.
For lesse were they esteem'd, so from that time,
nere any louer came vnto their shrine.
Yet to this day, their pictures doe remaine,
in Marble wrought, describing euery vaine.
Ech ruby blush, mix'd with a crimson die,
with Thysbes smile decolour'd wantonly.
With face defac'd by times iniurious frowne,
hath shown more beauty thē my Muse hath shown.

The answere of Hipolitus vnto Phædra.

The Epistle of Hyppolitus vnto Phædra.

Riddle me this.

An Embleame including the Authors name.

To the equall Reader.

If that thy nature answere to thy name,
Thou in thy iudgement wilt expresse the same
Which I entitle thee, and hate to be
A squintei'd Critick to misconster me.
Hows'ere: be what thou wilt, if Equall, finde
Lines correspondent to thy Equall minde:
If rough (for all my smoothnesse thou hast heard)
Thou'se heare far rougher Satires afterward.
For if these ierks so lightly laid on smart,
Thoule finde rare whipping cheere i'th Second part.
Where Furies run diuision on my song:
Patience a while, and thou shalt haue't ere long.

To the Captious Reader.

My answer's this to him that saies I wrong
Our Art to make my Epigrams so long;
I dare not bite, therefore to change my nature,
I call 't an Epigram which is a Satire.